Machine for marking letters and the like



- June 22, 1948. A. IELFIELD MACHINE FOR MARKING LETTERS AND'THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 24 June 22, 1948. A. IELFIELD 2,443,791

MACHINE FOR MARKING LETTERS AND THE LIKE Filed April 24, 1946 x 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 22, 1948. A. lELFlELD' MACHINE FOR MARKING LETTERS AND THE LIKE Filed April 24, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 Z Zofneys 7 a gi June 22, 1948. A. IELFIELD MACHINE FOR MARKING LETTERS AND THE LIKE Filed April 24, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 22, 1948.

A. IE LFIELD MACHINE-FOR MARKING LETTERS AND THE L IKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 24, 1946 Patented June 22, 1948 MACHINE FOR MARKING Ls rrnas AND THE LIKE.

August Ielfield, Silver Creek, N. Y., assignor of one-half to John W. Slack, Silver Creek, N. Y.

Application April 24, 1946, Serial No. 664,572

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for markingenvelopes, cards, collapsed cartons, and similar matter for the purpose of cancelling postage or post marks thereon and also vfor imprinting information on flattened paper bags or the like containing seed or other merchandise all of which matter, for conveniece of description, will be hereinafter referred to under the general term of letters or printing matter.

A further object of this invention'is to provide an improved frictional coupling or clutch for transmitting motion from the driving wheel to the printing wheel and enable the frictional engagement of this clutch to be readily increased so as to restore the driving effect f the clutch when the same becomes worn and tends to permit the printing wheel to slip on the drivin wheel, thereby insuring proper timing or locating of the impression on the letter which is being marked instead of causing the impression on the letter to be thrown back thereon in an improper position. 1

An additional object of thisinvention is to provide means whereby the printing wheel may be so adjusted relative to the trip mechanism which controls the starting of the printing wheel that the printingor impression on theletters may be located at different distances from the front or advancing edge thereof when it is desired to produce a mark on the letters otherthan that usu-z ally placed thereon for cancelling postage, such for example as marking envelopes for use in distributing seeds which require certain information on the envelopes as to the age of the seed and the fertility of the same.

This invention also comprises certain improvements in details of construction over the disclosure in United States Patent No. 1,703,148, as will presently appear.

With these objects in view, this invention consists generally in the improved organization which is shown in the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings Figure l is a top plan view of a markin machine embodying a preferred organization of this invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the same,

Figures 3 and 4 are vertical longitudinal sections of this machine taken on the correspondingly numbered lines in Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrowsassociatedwith these lines. 5

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section of the machine taken on line 55, Figure 1 1 I Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section,

on enlarged scale, taken on line 6-6, Figure 5, and showing the printing wheel in the position which it occupies when its control or trip mechanism has been released by the matter which is being marked and permits the printin wheel to rotate for producing an impression on this matter.

Figure '7 is a similar view showing the position of the parts in which the trip mechanism holds the printing wheel at rest preparatory to being released by a letter which is to be marked.

Figure 8 is a similar view of some of the parts shown in Figures 6and '7 but in aposition in which the printing wheel has completed its printing operation and has been arrested, but the letter or printing matter has not yet cleared the printing wheel during the forward movement of the letter.

"Figure 9 'is a fragmentary vertical transverse section, on an enlarged scale, taken generally on line 9--9, Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a vertical transverse section taken on line IU--l0, Figure 11.

Figure 11 is a horizontal section taken on line ll [,Figure 9. I U

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the fric'tio'n block or shoe forming part of the coupling or clutch for frictionally connecting the printing wheel with its driving means.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken on line l3l3, Figure 1.

Figure 1415 a horizontal section,on an enlarged scale, taken on line l4-l 4, Figure 5.

Figur 15 is a fragmentary horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, similar to Figures 6 and 7 and showing a modified form of the means for supporting a plurality of backing-up rollers as a unit on a yoke or hanger.

Figure 16 is a vertical longitudinal section takenon line l6--l6,Figure 15.

In the following description, similar characters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawings:

Although the frame on which the several working parts of thismachine may be variously constructed the same, as shown in the drawings, preferably comprises a main plate 20 of cast metal, a horizontal table 2| of sheet metal secured to the upper side of this plate, vertical flanges 22 depending from the edges of the table andupright legs 23 projecting downwardly from said flanges and adapted to rest on a work bench or other support.

The letters 24 or other like matter to be marked are fed over the top of the table from a rear supforwardly from the supply stack toward the marking and restacking mechanisms.

Rotation of the front feed roller is effected by means of a feed or propelling belt 46 which has an operative stretch 41 extending lengthwise from the receiving section of the feed table, past the marking mechanism and tactile receiving section of this jtabie'and havinga rear turn which passes around a'pulley 48 on the lower part of the front feed roller ll, a front turn which passes around crosswise of the table and toward the rear guide wall section 21 by means which include an upright rock shaft 3| journaledina bearing on the adjacent part of the frame and connected at its upper end with this follower, a rock arm 32 secured to the lower end of therock shaft 3|, a pring 33 connected at one end with-this rock I driving pulley 50.

a pulley E9 connected with the stacker, and an Tintermediateturn which passes through a main The last mentioned pulley is secured toc the upper end of a driving shaft 5! 5 whichi'isfiournaled"in a bearing on the adjacent arm, an adjusting screw 34 connected with the opposite end of this S ring and passing through the adjacent part of the frame fian'ge22, and a screw nut 35 applied to the outer end of therscrew fid andengaging the outer "side of the frame flange, ,v as-shown in Figures .1; 2,'and 4.

Above the ,supply'section ofthe table and extending across the same is a transverse retaining wall 36 the inner endrof which is spacedfrom .thelongitudinal guide wall section Zlby afeed v, passage oragap vor throat 37 through which the lettersm'overfrom the supply section of the table .tovthe mechanismswhich subsequently mark the ,lettersiand resta'ck the same.

,Theletters are fed successively forwardlywfroni the innersidev-of the supply stack on.the rear .sectionr25c of thetable by means which are con- :structedas follows:

The numeral 38 represents a rear. feed ,roll which. has the-inner part of its periphery projectiingr'throughcan opening 39 in the rear. section 2'! of the longitudinal guide'wallandadapted to aengagesuccessively with the rearside of the foremost letters of the stack on -the supplysection of the table, thisrollerlbeingfturned;so that its front side moves forwardly and thereby causes the letters to vbe moved forwardly through ;the separating throatgorgap 31 This rear feedroll sis; journaled on an. uprightpin or. arbor '40 3 which is mounted in a fixed vposition on'theadjacent part of the frame. I

Immediately in. front of the rear feed-lroller is arranged a front feed ;roll H which has its inner side also projecting through'the opening 39 in the .rear guide wall section and adapted ,to enggag-e with the rear side of-eachletter after the -same passes through :the throat 31 and thereby aid in; continuing the forward movement of I each letter from the supply stack to the marking mechanism and the restacking mechanism. This front feed roll is journaled on" an upright pin or arbor ll-which is fixedly mounted on the adjacent part --of-thefr-ameandisrotated so that its innerpart moves forwardly relativetothe table.

:rearand front r feed'rolls 38,-41 *are' operativelyuconnected so that the rear: feed rol1 turnsrsomewhat slower than the front feed roll, this being preferablyaccompanied by means of a b'elt 43 whichpasses around a'small driving pulley-M on the upper end of the frontfee'droll and alarge driven-pulley- 4-5 mounted on-zthe upper 7 end of the rear-feed roll, as shown in Figures 1 and 3." The-inner side of the rear-part of the "feed belt 43 also preferably engages successive- '-ly with the fbackfiof the-foremost letter of the supply "stack' and thus aids infeeding-the same part of the franie'and may be turned either manuallyror'by'power; but as shown in Figures 1 and 2 rotation of this shaft is effected by means of a crank"*52 secured to the upper end of this shaft and provided with a. handle 53 for rotating this shaft by hand power. "ThestacKer :38 and its pulley- 49. are secured to" the upper end ofithe stacker shaft 54 which' is journ'aled in a bearing onth'eadjacent part of the main frame.

4 Anyslackiimthisnriving belt may betakeri up by mans of a take-up roller: 55' which engages with this belt between the :-front feed roll .pulley 48* and the 1 driving pulley :50 and adjustahly' connected with the main'frame'by"means'of abracketc- 56 arrangedabove'the'table and provided with a pivot pin '51 upon-which'the take-up rolleris inounted:and asloti58 which receives an adjusting screwfiii seciired to-the main-"frame.

* Mean's are "provided for: preventing morethan one'lett'er 'at a'time"froin'rbeingffed off :from the "supply fstack toth'e printing-mechanism which n'iearis in theirqpreferred form sare' constructed as followsz' c Th f r riti ieedfrollerilliiis ofra-diameter equal to the-'- diameter of the pulley 3$ and' the' thickant side of theletters are engaged by aseparatii-lg roller si wheeiie I: whiclirotates in-a direction apposite tofthe opi dsingsllrf'aces-of' the feed belt 'arid the front ffeeding roller JH and pulley 48 "b 5 a lette'rsdn'rea'r of; the fore'mostletm K ter an the supply stack are heldbackand only the foremost-letter is permitted to move from "thesupplyfs'ta'ck to the printing mechanism.

' *Thisyseparating rolleris mounted on the upper *endof a-"verti'cal'shaft 62 "which extends downwardly through a slot 63in the table and has it"silower part;journaled on 'arock arm 64 which is pivoted by a pin-B5 on-themain'frame so that *it can swing horizontally.

Motion is transmitted fromfthe" stacker shaft 'b-elti-tfi-wliic1" passes around a small pulley 61 secured tothe lower end of the stacker shaftand a largepulley 68; Secured tothedower'end of the 'separatorsha'ftgasshown in Figuresf2,-3;4 and 13.

"-"I -his lo'el-t is preferablycons'tructed of spring wire which is coiled helically, thereby not cnly 'formingfa} dri-V' connect-ion between the pulleys 6'; "331E 58 biit--also retaining this belt constantly in cofnditionso as toreliably transmit inoth sma H puIley-BT to'jthe large pulley G and-also permit'the separator wheel or roller SI to move horizontally the required extent in 3 order *to adapt --it-* mane-var ing thicknesses of letters or other e matter passingibetween'the 5 Antenata -whee 'o'r i eiier t1 and-the adjacent surface of the feed belt and the front feedin roller 4| without requiring any take-up or other means for maintaining this belt in a proper working condition. Means are provided for limiting the movement of the separator wheel 6| toward those parts of the feed belt and the front feeding roller 48 adjacent to the gap 69, and thereby prevent the periphery of the separating wheel from entering this gap and insuring the maintenance of the spacing between these members so that the thinnest letters will be effectively gripped between them and prevent more than one letter at a time from being fed from the supply stack to the printing mechanism. The preferred means for effecting this adjustment includes an adjusting rod 69 connected atone end with a sleeve 10 surrounding the upper part of the separator shaft Bland passing at its opposite end through a post H secured to the adjacent part of the feed table an adjusting screwnut l2 working on a threaded portion of the rod 69 and engaging with the outer side of the post H and a clamping nut 13 also working on the threaded portion of longitudinal stretch 4'! of the feed belt so that the letters passing forwardly between this printing wheel and the feed belt will receive an impression on the front side end corresponding to the character of the type, die or other impression This printing wheel is at rest and held against rotation when no letter is passing forwardly between the same and the feed belt, but when the letter, while being fed forward reaches this printing wheel the latter is released and permitted to rotate its type face in engagement with the letter during the forward movement of the same and produces an impression of the type face on the letter. The means for thus holding the printing wheel against rotation when no letter is present between the same and the feed belt but is released to permit the printing wheel to produce an impression on the letter are preferably constructed as follows:

.The numeral T! represents the tubular hub of a driving wheel and 78 the lower circular driving rim or disk of this wheel. The hub of the driving wheel engages with the cylindrical bore of'the printing wheel 16 and the lower driving rim of the same bears against the lower end of the print-.

ing wheel through the medium of an interposed fifber washer 19. This driving wheel rotates on an upright arbor 80 secured on its lower end to the main frame and is rotated constantly by engagement of its lower rim or disk 18 withthe is released.

. 6 adjacent lower edge portion of the feed belt, which moves forwardly at this place. i

Friction coupling or clutch means are provided whereby the printing wheel is rotated by the driving wheel when the printing wheel is free to rotate, but when the printing wheel is held against rotation, the driving wheel rotates independently of the printing wheel. This friction coupling or clutchembodies a feature of the present invention and is constructed as follows:

Referring to Figures 5, 1O, 11 and 12, the numeral 8i represents a friction block or coupling shoe made of fibre or other suitable material having a high friction quality and bearing with its inner side against the periphery of the tubular hub ll of the driving wheel. This coupling block is arranged in a longitudinal groove .82 formed in the bore of the printing wheel and is compelled to turn with this wheel but is capable of moving toward the hub of the. driving wheel in order to take up wear on the coupling block. In order to guide this coupling block without fitting the same tightly in the groove 82 and permit it to move freely radially relative to the driving wheel and printing wheel, guiding means are provided which preferablyconsist of two retaining or guide pins 83, 83 secured to the upper and lower parts of the printing wheel and projecting radially inward at opposite. ends of the groove 62 and into outwardly opening longitudinal notches 84 formed at opposite ends ofthe coupling block. Spring means are provided for yieldingly holding the coupling block against the hub of the driving wheel which means consist preferably of a leaf spring 85 with its central part toward the back of the groove 82 while its opposite ends engage with inwardly facing under-cut seats, shoulders or hooks 86 formed on the outer side of the opposite ends of the coupling block. In order to permit of adjusting the tension of this spring so as to produce the desired pressure of the coupling blOCk against the driving hub Tl, means are provided which preferably consist of an adjusting screw 81 workingin a threaded radial opening in the printing wheel and engaging its inner end with the central bowed part of this spring while its outer end is providedwith a notch which is accessible from the outer side of the printing wheel to permit a screwdriver to be used for turning this screw and adjustin the tension of this spring accordingly.

When the printing wheel is free, the same is coupled by means of this frictional :clutch or coupling with the driving wheel so that the same turn together and cause the printing wheel to produce an impression of its die or impression surface against the letter which is passing between the printing wheel, driving wheels and the feed belt, but when the rotation of the printing wheel is arrested the driving wheel continues to rotate independently of the printing wheel at which time the driving hub" slips on the fric- 1tion coupling block. When the coupling block becomes worn to such an extent that the frictional engagement of the same with the driving hub is not strong enough to cause the printing wheel to be immediately turned with the driving wheel upon release of the printing wheel, then a slight tightening turn of the adjusting screw 8icauses the. tensiononwthe spring Bitobe increased so that a sufficiently strong grip of the coupling block on the driving hub is produced to insure prompt starting of the printing wheel with; the driving. wheel whenithe printing wheel *By this means it-is-possible; -to begin the. marking or cancelling .operation' onthe face pf aletter immediately at the front'or; advancing edge of the same, instead of delaying: this operation and causing the printing to begin at a distancefrom the front edge of the letters aswouldbethecase if a slippage of the'printing-wheel on the vdriving wheel would occur before the. printing wheel is picked up by the drivingwheel.

By.engaging at opposite ends of the, tension spring 35 with undercut or hook shaped shoulders at opposite ends of the friotionblockthis spring is securely held in position on the coupling block and prevented from shifting lengthwise and thereby causing the pressure of the adjusting screw 87 againstthe spring 85 to be more effectively transmitted tothe driving hub.

By means of the adjusting screws! it is possible to restore the proper tension of the spring 85 in case the same becomes weakand thus insure placing the mark exactly in the proper place on the letter instead of permitting the impression to be thrown back on the letter and possibly missing the postage stamp in the usual position at the'upper right hand corner of the envelope or the like as would be the case if the clutch or past the same. The preferred organization of the;

control mechanism is constructed as follows:

The numeral 88 represents a supporting disk provided with a central opening which receives the upper part of the arbor 8D and securedto the upper end of the printing wheel so as to be com-ago with the opposing face of the feed belt or with I the letter passing between this belt and the printing roller so that the latter is rotated when the same is free to'turn.

At the end of each rotation the printing wheel and the parts mounted thereon are stopped and held against forward rotation by means of a trip lever 89 which is pivoted at its rear end by means of a pin as on the upper side of the-supporting disk 88 and provided with a movable stop 9|,

having preferably the form of a roller, and adapted to engage with a stationary'stop 92 mounted on a bracket Q3 forming partof the main frame and also preferably having the form of a roller. This trip lever is'yieldingly turned outwardly so that at the end of each bodily rotation it will engage its movablestop ill with the fixed stop 92, this being accomplished by means of a spring E l connecting the heel of the triplever with the adjacent part ofthe'supporting disk, 88 as shown in Figures 6, 7 and-9. The outward movement of this trip lever under the pull of the spring 94 is limited by meansofa stop pin 95 projecting upwardlyfrom the'supportingdisk.

and engaged by the outer side as shown in Figure 7.

On the front end'of the trip lever is-pivoteda trip finger 93-by means of ra' pin 9T. When the printing wheel is at rest, this trip finger'is-moved of the trip lever,

ivo

;outw ardly and into aiposition across-the path vof the letters ,as they approach the;printing wheel, this being accomplished by means of a spring 98 interposed between the trip finger and the adjacent part of the trip lever on one side of the pivot pin 97. The outward movement of the ,trip finger under the action of the spring 88 is limited by engagement of a stop 99 on the trip finger onthe opposite side of the pin- 91 with a stop if! on the adjacent part of the trip lever, as shown inFigures 6 and 7.

Whenno letter is-present between the printing wheel and the feed belt the printing wheel is at rest, and the same is locked against forward: movement and the trip'finger projects outwardly across the path of the letters, as'shown .in Figure 7. When a letter is fed forwardly its front edge engages with the trip finger and moves-the same and the trip lever inwardly a sufficient extent to disengage the movable stop 9| of the trip lever from the fixed stop 92 on the frame bracket 93, thereby releasing the printing wheel and causing the same to be turned for wardly by frictional engagement of the driving wheel disk 18. and the supporting disk '88 with the face of the letter which is being fed so that an impression of thevprinting wheel is produced on the letter for cancelling or marking the same.

After the printing .wheel has effected the initial part of its rotation and the trip finger is disengaged from the letter as shown inFigure 6, and the trip lever is thrown outwardly by the spring Si l so that the movable stop 9| on the trip lever is intercepted by the fixed stop 92 on the frame bracket93, thereby arresting the further forward rotation of the printing Wheel notwithstandingthatthe driving wheel continues to rotate and the feed belt moves forwardly and the letter which has been marked is moved forwardly independently of the printing wheel. If the tail end or rear edge of the letter has not yet passed the trip finger at the time that the trip lever arrests the forward movement of the printing wheel, then the tripifinger will engage with the face .of the forwardly moving letter and be thereby pushed backwardly against the tension of its spring 98 and held out of the path of the letters as shown in Figure 8.

As soon however as the rear end of the respective letter, during its forward movement, has cleared the trip finger the latter is instantly turned outwardly by its spring 98 into a position in which the finger projects across the path of the next following letter and thereby is again in a position to release the printing wheel and beginithe next cycle of the operations of printing a mark on a letter.

Supplemental means are provided for producing an additional frictional coupling effect between the printing wheel and the driving wheel by pressing the printing wheel downwardly agalnst the washer '19 on the upper side of the driving wheel disk '53, thisbeing accomplished as follows:

The numeral lfll represents a pressure collar which surrounds the arbor 80 and bears with its underside against the upper side of the supporting disk 88, as shown in Figures 5 and 10. This collar isfree to move lengthwise on the arbor '80 but is held against turning thereon by means of a key pin 32 extending through this collar and a vertical-slot B3 in this arbor, as shown in' Figures 9 and 10. Adownward pressure on "the collar isexerted by spring means which pressure is transmitted by the supporting disk I '88 9 and printing wheel to the washer I9 on top of the driving disk I8. Pressure means for this purpose preferably comprise a helical spring I84 arranged within a pocket I85 formed in the upper end of the arbor, said spring bearing with its lower end against the key pin Ifllwhileits upper end bears against an adjusting screw it working in the threaded upper part of the arbor and held in its adjusted position by means of a lock nut 181. By tightening the screw I86 more or less the frictional engagement of the lower end of the printing wheel with the washer E9 on the driving disk I8 may be adjusted to suit requirements. This adjustment can be effected while the machine is in operation by means of a screw driver engaging a nick in the upper end of the adjusting screw I88, thereby permitting ofputting the machine quickly in the best working condition.

When marking letters bearing postage adjacent to the advancing edge and front side thereof the timing or controlling of the printing mechanism relative to the feed mechanism is so ad justed that the impressing of the letter by means of the printing wheel begins at the front end or edge of the letter. When however it is desired to produce a mark on the face of ,a letter or other matter thatshouldbegin at a distance from the front edgeof the same, as for example,

when printing information on the face of an envelope or carton as to its content such as the germinating period of seed in the envelopein accordance with legalrequirements then the timing of the printing mechanism must be adjusted sothat the actual printing of the respective matter on theenvelope will notbeginimmediately when the envelope to be printed reaches the printing wheeL but instead is, delayed for a time until the envelope has advanced with its front edge beyond the printing wheel and presents a,

part of its surface at a distance rearwardlyfrom the front edge thereof. l l r Such adjustment ofthe printing mechanism :is accomplished by circumferentially turning the supporting disk 88 relative to the printing mechanism so that-the impression of the latter is delayed sometime after theenvelope has engaged :the trip finger 88 and released the-printing wheel and the envelope has passed a sufficient distance beyond the type face of this wheel. w

7 Various means may be provided forthus adjusting the timing or control mechanism and the printing wheel circumferentially relative to each other, but it is preferable to employ for this purpose the means which are shown in Figures-6, 7 and 9 and include a set screw I88 which works in a threaded opening in the upper end of the printing wheel on one side of its axis and passes through a segmental slot, I89 formed in the supporting disk 88 and bears with its head against theupper side of thisdisk. Upon loosening this set screw the supporting disk 88 may be turned circumferentially relative to theyprinting wheel either backwardly or forwardly for the purpose of either advancing or retarding'engagement of the trip finger by the front edge of the letter to be marked, and after such adjustmentthe set screw is tightenedto hold the control mechanismin the desired position relative to the printing wheel. It will be apparent that by setting the trip finger ahead the actual printingpf the respective letter will be effected some time after the front edge ofthe letter hasreleased the printingmechanism. It will now be apparent that the adjustment of the printing mechanism can be so timed that the impression is thrown either forwardly or backwardly relative to the release of the printing wheel and thus permit of making the impression on the letters immediately adjacent to the front edge thereof or this impression may be made on the central part of the letters and thus suit the requirements of the particular matter which is being handled.

Between the separating r011 BI and the printing wheel a guide roll I I8 is arranged which engages with the adjacent part of the front side of the longitudinal stretch 41 of the feed belt or the front side of the letter 24 which is being fed forwardly and thereby increases the gripping effect of the belt on the letters to insure proper movement of the same from the supply stack to the printing mechanism. This guide roll is pivotally mounted in the upper end of a pin II I which has its lower part extending through the feed table 26 and is secured to frame plate 20 by a set screw I 12, as shown in Figure 4, or other suit able means.

In rear of the longitudinal stretch 41 of the feed belt, backing means are arranged which operate to press this part of the belt laterally toward the guide roll III! and the printing mechanism which backing means embody the present invention and are constructed as follows:

The numeral H3 represents a main backing roller which engages with the back or rear side of the operative stretch 47 of the feed belt transversely in line with the printing and driving wheels, and IM represents a rear auxiliary backing roll which engages with the rear side of the respective stretch of the said belt transversely in line with the guide roll H0. The main backin roll I I3 turns on the upper end of a vertical pivot pin I I5 which extends downwardly through a segmental slot I IS in the feed table and the frame plate and is secured at its lower end to a supporting arm II'I which is pivoted by means of a pin IIB on the under side of this plate. The rear auxiliary backing roll H4 turns on a vertical pin II9 which-is mounted on the rear part of a horizontally swinging yoke I20 which latter has its front part mounted on the pin II5 so as to be capable of turning thereon. This yoke together with the main and rear auxiliary backing rolls I I3, I I4, is constantly pressed toward the back side of the respective stretch of the feed belt by spring means which preferably consist of a helical spring I2I bearing at its inner end against the outer side of the yoke I28 while its opposite end bears against an adjusting screw I 22 working in the upper end of a stationary post I23 mounted on the adjacent part of the frame, as best shown in Figures 1 and 5.

When a letter moves from the supply stack to- Ward and past the printing wheel the respective part of the feed belt is deflected laterally in accordance with the thickness of the letter and during such defieetionboth the main and rear auxiliary backing rolls are moved. to a corresponding extent in a direction. away from the path of the letter which is being fed, this movement being resisted by the spring I2 I As the letter leaves the supply stack it first passes between the guide roller I I8 and that part of the feed belt which is supported by the rear backing roll H4, whereby the rear part of the yoke I28 is deflected and caused to rock on the front pivot pinII5 and as the letter progresses forwardly, the same passes between the printing wheel and the main backing roll H3, whereby the front part of the yoke is also moved laterally. During this last mentioned 11 I movement the spring I2I. causes the front and rear backing rolls to both bear with the same pressure against the back of the adjacent part of the feed b'eltand thereby produce aj uniform feed.- ing action of this belt regardless of thefthickness of the letter which i-s being fed. By thus mounting the niacin and rear feedroll's on the same yoke and pressing the lattertowardthe path of the letters by a single spring device, the feeding belt is not only'capable of yielding the requisite extent to adapt itself to letters of different thickness but. it is also cepahie of accommodating itself to successive letters which vary inthickn'ess and still produce a uniform gripping action of the feed belt ag'ainstthe same. If desired an additional front auxiliary backing roll I24 may be em-- ployed, as shownin Figures 15 and 16; and pivoted by means'of a pin I25'on the yoke IZ'G'in front of the main backing roll I'l3 so as to bear against the back of the feedbel t at a distance'in front of the printing wheel. When marking letters or the like which are comparatively thinthe use o i"the main backing roll #3 the rear aiuziliary backing roll I M will usually; sufiice to; support the feed belt and hold the same in position whenthe run of letters in abatchji-s relative ly shortfbutwhe'n the letters in a batch which are being marked are of 'coar'ugarati'v'ely long length it is preferable to empl'oya front auxiliary back ing r011 2M, in additionto the man; backing and rear auxiliary roll in order to obtain'the desired gripping effect of the belt on the letters and insure proper feeding of the same past the printing mechanism. I I

By mountinga plurality o'ijbacking than;

the same yoke or hanger asa'unit' it is possible to handie' thi-eker letters and; also handle mixed. t 1161; and thin letter with'e'qual facility Without liability of binding orchdkin tnemachine, Various means may b e'rnployed'i fori 'ing the type. or impression, surface ofjthe printing "wheel. H this purpose the. improve d. mechanism whichis showni in the draw-l but it is preferable toeinploy io i lngs and which s constructe df asfollows; i1 The numeral E26 represents an 'i wheeler roll of fibrous;por u plga sqrb nt ma;

terial engage. the periphery of. the; printing wheel on the side thereof opposite of where the latter engages with. the letters which.

with metal-liclhub {21. which r are to be marked. 'Tliisdnking wheel; is

ota'ts, on. a .pivot L23mountedon the inneranlnliigfof justing lever pivoted by means of pin ,1 3i) on.

the upper side of, the feed l'lable. This,adjusting. lever is yieldingly turned the direction which engages the inking;;roll,witl ..the-periphery oil the. printing wheelhy means offaspr'ing I3] ,engag ing theouter arml 32 ofthe adjusting levenwhile.

its opposite end engages with'apost E33. mounted on theadjacent part of the feed table. The pres:- sure of the inking roll against the printing wheel may be regulated by means of an adjusting screw l3 l passing through the outer. arm. I3'2,,of. the adjusting lever and the tension spring I31. and engaging its thread with an opening. in thapost E33, while its head bears against the outer side of the arm 5320f the adjustinglev'enas shown in.

Figure :1. By turning theadjustihgfsorew I34 onedirection or the otherthe tensionof tnespri l IiijI be varied'to securevth'e desired pressure of the ink roll against the periph y 9f theprintt awheel. V

Ink is autem ueauy s plied-w ne 1 1d: deg liverygrfoll in accordance with this invention by means which ineludean annular reservoir Orwell kf. delivery tion-o'f the feed-tabla f2 I35, 'see Figs. 5 and 14,. formed in the upper end of the hub l2! and adapted to hold a supply of liquid ink which is delivered th-erefrom-tothe ink delivery roller bymeans of one or more radial openings I36 extending from the bore of, this Well to the periphery ofthehub. I21. As the ink, roller rotates, liquid ink is thrown by centrifugal: force from. within this. wellagainst the bore ofv the fi brous ink roller which latter is thereby saturated with ink and delivers the same from its periphery to the printing wheel. I

The upper end of the ink Well is normally closed. by a disk shaped cover I31 which has its inner part connected with the central part of. the hub I21 by means of a screwjointISB while its marginal part bears against the upper end of the outer partgof this hub and. against the top of. the ink roller I26, as shown in Figures 1 and 5. Replenishing of the Well with ink may be eifected. through an "opening I39 in the cover by any suitable'means. 1

Whenpreparing this inking device for use: the inkingwheel or roller I26 is first thoroughly stacking follower having the form of a plate ar-.,

ranged lengthwise over the front part of the table opposite the front section 29 of the longitudinal guide wall and provided at its rear end witha laterally bent lip or-fiange I4I whereby the=let-- ters, as they moveiorwardly from the printing mech-arns-m totherestackingmechanism are di- 1-ectedinto the space between-therestacking fol-- lower and thisiront guide wall section. This restackingfollower is pivoted on the reanend of a supportingarm l i't-by a pin-I43, the-front endof this arm being secured to the upper end ofa shaft I44 which is journaled in abearingon the-front part of the frame. The restacking follower'is constantly pressedtoward the=frontguide wall section 29 by means which preferably comprise a spring arranged below the front end of the feed table and; connectedatone end with an arm I46 on the-iowerend of the shaftIM, anadjusting screw I4 1 passing through arr-opening inrth e adjacent flange-of-the frame and connected-at itsinner end with the opposite end of the spring 145',- and a' screwnut M8 applied to the outer end of this adjustingscrew-and-bear ing -against the outer side or the "frame flange,. as s'hown in Figure-2; 'Bytightening or loosening the screW-nut-MB -the tensionof the spring I45. may be adjusted to suit the required pressure of the resta'ck ing follower against the stack of "letterswhich are being-piled on the-receiving sec- In ordepto yieldingly hold therestacking fol lower a position parallel withthe rear guide wall section 29; or substantially so; a spring I49 is interposed between the-f-rontpart oi the restacking fol1ower-and-the supporting arm I42 and this spring is held imposition by means-oi a guide red; I 50 curved concentrically; with a pivot l' l3;'and- -extend ing-through the spring I l-fl and s'ecured atits inner end to the restacking fellower; while its outer endpasses through an-open 1 ing'int'lie supporting arm-"I42: Excessive-tilting 13 of the restacking follower relative to its supportingarm is prevented by means of a stop I51 arranged on the rear end of the supporting arm I42 and adapted to be engaged by the outer side of the restacking follower in rear of the pivot pin I43.

When comparatively long letters are being marked in the machine the forward movement of the same on the receiving section 26 of the feed table is limited by means of a fixed front stop wall II' projecting laterally from the front guide wall section 29 across the path of the letters. When the letters ofa batch are comparatively short the forward movement of these letters is arrested at a distance from this front fixed'stop by means of an intermediate or rear stop I52 which can be moved into and out of its operative position so that this marking machine may be used either on letters which are comparatively short as well as .onaletters which are relatively long. In its preferred form this intermediate stop has the form of a bar which has its inner end pivoted by means of a screw I53 on a lug I54 projecting laterally from the rear guide wall section 29. This intermediate stop is adapted to be turned vertically into an operative horizontal position across the path of the letters as shown by full lines in Figures 1 and3 or. the same may be swung to one side of this path,,as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1. When in its operative position this intermediate stop engages with a notch I55 in the guide wall section 29 and engages its underside with a stop I56 on the lower end of this notch, thus limiting a downward movement of this stop bar when the same reaches its horizontal operative position. When the stop bar engages with a notch I55 the same is held reliably in position for arresting the forward movement of the letters which engage the same and when this stop bar is swung to the opposite side of its pivot the same completely clears the path of the letters and does not obstruct the forward movement of the same toward the fixed front stop I5I.

The several novel features of this invention when taken together provide a marking machine which is very eficient in operation and permits of marking or cancelling letters with ease and facility and the same is also very simple and durable in construction and not liable to get out of order so that servicing of the same for maintaining the machine in good working condition is reduced to a minimum.

I claim:

1. A machine for marking letters and like matter, comprising a rotary printing wheel adapted to impress the matter to be marked and having a longitudinal groove in its bore a rotary driving wheel upon which said printing wheel is mounted which has a central tubular hub engaging the bore of said printing wheel and a lower driving rim engaging the lower end of said printing wheel, and means for frictionally coupling said driving wheel and printing wheel including a friction block arranged in said groove and engaging its inner side with the hub of said driving wheel, a bow spring arranged in said groove and engaging said block, and an adjusting screw arranged on said printing wheel and engaging said spring.

2. A. machine for marking letters and like matter, comprising a rotary printing wheel adapted to impress the matter to be marked and having a longitudinal groove in its bore a rotary driving wheel upon which said printing wheel is mounted which has a central tubular hub enga ing wheel and engaging with said notches at opposite ends of said block. 1 i

3. A machine for marking letters and like matter, comprising arotary printing wheel adapted to impress the matter to be marked and having a longitudinal groove in its bore a rotary driving wheel upon which said printing wheel is mounted which has a central tubular hub engaging the bore of said printing wheel and a lower driving rimengaging the lower end of said printing wheel, and means for frictionally coupling said driving wheel and printing wheel including a fri ction block arranged in said groove and engaging its inner side with the hub of said driving wheel, and provided at its-opposite ends with outwardly opening notches and inwardly facing undercut shoulders, guide pins mounted on the printing wheel and projecting into said notches, 'anoutwardly bowed leaf s'pringengaging its upposite ends with said shoulders, and an adjusting screw arranged on said printing wheel and engaging said leaf spring.

4. A machine for marking letters and the like, comprising a printing wheel for marking letters, means for moving the letters to be marked past said printing wheel including a propelling belt engaging one side of said letters, a driving wheel upon which said printing wheel is mounted and which is provided at its lower end with a driving rim adapted to be driven by the lower part of the belt, means for frictionally coupling said printing wheel and driving wheel, a supporting disk adjustable circumferentially on the upper end of said printing wheel and having a rim adapted to be driven by the upper part of said belt,and means for controlling the rotation of said printing wheel with said driving wheel in- "eluding a trip lever pivoted on said disk and provided with a movable stop adapted toengage a fixed stop, and a trip finger pivoted on the trip lever and adapted to be engaged by the letters moved to said printing wheel.

5. A machine for marking letters and the like, comprising a printing wheel for marking letters, means for moving the letters to be marked past said printing wheel including a propelling belt engaging one side of said letters, a driving wheel upon which said printing wheel is mounted and which is provided at its lower end with a driving rim adapted to be driven by the lower part of the belt, means for frictionally coupling said printing wheel and driving wheel, a supporting disk adjustable circumferentially on the upper end of said printing wheel and having a rim adapted to be driven by the upper part of said belt, and means for controlling the rotations of said printing wheel with said driving wheel including a trip lever pivoted on said disk and provided with a movable stop adapted to engage a fixed stop, a trip finger pivoted on the trip lever and adapted to be engaged by the letters moved to said printing wheel, a stationary upright arbor about which said printing wheel, driving wheel and supporting disk turn, and means frictionally l coanect nasamadr v s afid-1-pr t ns vW s eluding a; friction collar mounted onsaid arbor, means for preventing turning-;-of said. collar on the-arbor but-@ermitting the collar to slide vertieally-oxg. thearbo-rincluding a keypin passing through said collan and a 'vertica1.- slot in said arbor; ag-spring arranged Within saidarbor and bearing at; one-end against said. key ;-p n, and an adjustings crew mounted onv said arbor. and tenaa ne--,3Mithsaid-sp in I 6. Am v ,hine formarking--1etters andthe like, comprising. eans for-propelling the letters to be marked and engaging onesideiofthe samaprinting means for mark ing the -1etters=inc1uding :a printing twheel, a-daptedgtoengage-the opposite side I of 1 the --1etters, controlling; means whereby said-printing wheel-qis'held at rest preparatory toimpressi-ng-a--1etter and which is-operated by the forward; moyementofaaletterotomrelease the printing whee --,andcause the latter to impress the letten-andmeans or adjustingithe timing 10f:

other eomprising-an adjustable; screw se cured to saidprinting wheel and passing-;through -a segmentab slot 'i aidwdisk; aqtrip leverrpivoted on said; isklalidhaving a movable stop adapted to engage--a-stationary step; a 3 spring ;-for turning :Numberi reIeaJ'sin 'theapIjmtin-g wheel'iand starting of the same, and a spring for yieldingly holding trrertr lpfinger-in the path. of =the letters-to be marked-:-

ifilfiP si'qll-fip following references are: ofrecor i 4n the file oi this fiatemt: ED S A ESQA NT Name- Bertram 1;038,5371 =Ilfiel'd 

